Ice-machine.



'w. BLANKNER.

I ICE MACHINE. APPLICATION'FILED OCT-6.1914.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- .llll

mm B WITNESSES 622M472 I. I INVENTOR I A BY 7 1 ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H 60.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

.W. BLANKNER.

ICE MACHINE.

APPLICATION men OCT. 6. 1 914.

Patented Oct.

3 SHEETIS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR BY %WM ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH CO WASHINGTON, D. C.

w. BLANKNERQ ICE MACHINE.

APPLICATION r1150 OCT. 6, 1914.

' Patented 001. 12, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I INVENTOR WITNESS S ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 50-.WASHXNGTDN. D. c.

' 7 into the mold, and the process of refrigera- 55 p r the water in the mold. The effect of this WILLIAM BLANKNER, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIsivoR or omi niitnro 'URSHEL, or TRENTON, new JERSEY. V

CHARLES G.

Ion-Macrame Application filed October 6, 1914. Serial No. 865,253.

refrigerating process by which water is converted into ice, by the use whereof, more or less complicated apparatus now commonly in use, may be omitted, and the process of refrigeration more expeditiously effected.

As is well known, artificial ice is formed in metal molds which are exposed to a refrigerant, commonly chilled brine; the heat taken up by the brine from the water within the molds, through the walls thereof, bemg continuously removed from the brine by passing the brine through a cooling appa-.

ratus, in which ammonia-gas is commonly used as a cooling agent. Heretofore, the water to be congealed has been placed in metal molds, and there retained until thecongelation thereof has extended inwardly from the walls of the molds exposedto the refrigerant, to the middle of the molds. As is also well known, when water at or below a freezing temperature is gently agitated or kept in motion, such impurities as are contained in the water, are not taken up and held by the congealed portion of the water, but remain in the water which continues in a liquid condition, and when, in the manufacture of artificial ice, the water within the molds has congealed to a point near the middle of the mold, an open passage through the block of ice remains, which is called the core. The residuum of uncongealed water is then withdrawn'from the mold, carrying with it such impurities as have been con tained in the water, and a fresh supply of water, sufiicient to fill the core, is poured tion is continued until the block of ice becomes entirely solid; To keep the water in the mold in such a state of agitation as will prevent the impurities contained therein becoming incorporated in the congealed portion of the water, air is admitted to the mold by means of pipes connected with an air pump or blower, which forces aslight current of air through the pipes and through Specification of Letters Pate nt.

water used.

Patented Oct. 12,1915.

agitation of the water'is not only to prevent the incorporation in the ice being formed of impurities in suspension in the water, but it also aids in the production of a clear and transparent ice cake, which would otherwise be clouded and opaque. The objections to this process are two-fold. First,

the air passed into the wateris ordinarily warmer than the water, and. adds heat to the .water in the mold, thus requiring a longer process of refrigeration to expel and overcome the heat conveyed into the water than would otherwise be necessary;- and, second,

:more or less complicated mechanism must always be used for the-purpose of forcing the air through the water in the molds.

- The object'of my invention is to provide molds for the forming of artificial ice cakes, through or betweenthe walls of which the refrigerant may be circulated, and to afford means for forcing a slow current'of water' to be congealed .through the molds themselves, thereby preventing theincorporation in the ice beingformed of'such impurities as may be in suspension n the water used,

and also avoiding the mingling with the water -to be congealed of air of a temperature higher than that of the-water being treated. It will thus be seen that Iprovide apparatus for. freezing the water in a manner which approximates more nearly to the natural process. of congelation than anything heretofore devised, andthat by avoiding the use of air of a higher temperature than that of the water to agitate the water, I secure a readierand more rapid congelation of the I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a .tankinclosing a series of my refrigerating molds, and disclosing the connections thereof; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe construction shown in Figs. 1

and 2, taken on the line 3-3 inFig. 2, look 7 ing down; Fig. sis a longitudinal side elevation of one of my refrigerating molds, with 'a portion of the outer wall removed to show the means provided to facilitate a circulation ofthe refrigerant between the walls of view in perspective, of portion of the mold illustrated in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detailed view showing an end elevation of a portion of one of my molds in its relation to the means for circulating water there-through;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of a mold intended for the simultaneous forming of two cakes of ice; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration in perspective of the mold for forming two cakes of ice, shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is another diagrammatic illustration of the construction shown in Fig. 10, in side'elevation; Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the'can for forming two cakes'of ice, taken on the line 1212, in Fig. 9, and Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating the means for disposing of brine, which may exude from any possible leak in the conduits therefor.

.1 deem it unnecessary to describe the means commonly used for chilling and c'i'rculating the refrigerant used in the production of artificial ice, as such apparat-us is well understood by those conversant with the art. It is sufficient to state that I prefer to use chilled brine, and that any common means for forcing its circulation in the appa'ratus which I shall no w describe, may be used in combination with an ordinary brine tank or cooling reservoir, where the heat may be taken from the brine 'or other refrigerant, inany manner heretofore commonly pursued. I

My construction consists of a fluid tight tank 1 covered with material non-conductice of heat, such as pitch, provided'preferably with removable covers or lids, 2. In the bottom-of the tank are fixed angled guides, 3, to receive and properly locate .and space molds, 4, wherein the ice is to be formed. The tank, 1, is also provided with vertical partitions, 5, which co-aet with the walls of the molds, 4, to provide proper channels for the circulation of water within the tank, 1. To enforce such circulation of the contents of the tank, I provide propellers, 6, mounted upon shafts, 7, passing through the wall of the tank, and which may be rotated by a pulley and belt, from any proper source of power. 8, 8, are headers, for conveying the refrigerant from the cooling reservoir to the ice molds, 4, with which they are connected by branch pipes, 9, and flexible connecting pipes, such as hose, 10, attached t'o the branch pipes, 9, by couplings, 11, and to pipes, 12, leading into the molds 4. At the other ends of the molds, 4, are the pipes, 18, connected by flexiblepi'pes, 14, and unions, 15 and branch pipes, 16, which are in turn connected with returnpipes, 17, leading back to the cooling reservoir for the refri erant. I

.111 describing the molds, 4, 1 shall refer first to the molds intended for the production of single blocks of ice, illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. These molds are constructed of metal, with three walls, one within another, and with spaces 1 outside of the inner Wall, 18, with intervening spaces, as indicated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. The space between the walls, 19 and 20, is filled with material non-conductive of heat and cold, such as pitch, cork, or the like, while the ends of the "space between the walls, 18 and 19,'-are closed by the wall, 21 '(see Fig. 4), and the spaces between the walls, 18, 19 and 20, are closed at each end of the mold by walls, 21, and the space between the walls, 18 and 20, at each end of the mold, is filled with pitch or other nonconductive material, as shown at the left hand end of Fig. 4. Between the walls, 18 and 19, is formed 'a continuous partition, 22, which encircles or embraces in its turns, the wall, 18,,from' endto end, and forms a continuous, winding channel for thecirculation of the refrigerant, about and in contact with the inner wall, 18, of the mold. The pipe, 12, conveys the brine or other re frigerant, through the *outer and middle walls, '20 and 19, into the space between the walls, 18 and 19, and the current of refrigrows, and "finds its eXit through the pipe,

13, and is thence carried back'to the'cooling tank by the'conn'ec tions, 14, 16, and 17.

In the mold for simultaneously forming two cakes of ice, diagrammatically illus trated in Figs. 10 and 11, the same plan of construction is followed .as that just described with reference to the'mold for forming single ice blocks,"but witha modification of'the structure, which provides for the circulation ofthe refrigerant between the adjacent walls of themold used for forming thetwo ice blocks. The inner wall, 23, of the double mold shown in Figs. 10 and 11, is embraced in the*continu'ous'winding partition, 24. A. separate partition, 25, guides the refrigerant received through the pipe, 12 (shown in Fig. 4, but not in "Fig. 10), down oneside of the upper mold portion, in the direction of the arrows, and the current of refrigerant is thence deflected bethe farther end of said partition, 28, in the l :dicated in Figs. 1 and'2.

course indi'cated by arrows, and back by the other side thereof, through an opening in the side wall of the mold, and thence around the mold in the winding channel formed by the partition, 2%, as shown by the direction of the arrows, until it reaches the top of the farther end of the mold, where it is discharged through the pipe 13 (shown in Fig. 1, and not in Fig. 10), and is carried back to the cooling tank.

The molds thus described are placed in the tank, 1, in series, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, their regular adjustment to position being facilitated by the guides, '3, which not only serve to aid in properly positioning the molds, 4, but also prevent the circulation of water between the molds. The connection of the molds with-the headers and return pipes for conveying the refrigerant, is then effected as hereinbefore described, and as in Fresh water is then admitted to the tank, 1, until it rises to a height therein at or slightly above to the tops of the several molds, e. The covers, 2, are then placed over the tank, 1, and the refrigerant is turned on, and passes into the refrigerating jackets of the several molds, and being under continuous pressure, circulates within the walls of each mold through the channels formed by the continuous partitions above described, and is returned'to the brine cooler in the common, well-known manner. Simultaneously the propellers, 6, are rotatedat a proper speed, tobause a circulation of the water in the tank, 1, which water, as shown in Fig. 3, passes through the channel, 26, between the two rows of molds adjacent to. the propeller, and through the open-ended molds, into the channels, 27 and 28, as indicated by arrows, from which the water flows through the channel, 29, intothe'channel, 30, and out of said-channel, 30, through the two rows of molds placed at thesides thereof, into the channels, 31 and 32, and thence into the channel, 33, and back to the propeller, 6, which maintains the circulation of water through the course just described. .As the water in the tank is thus continuously circulatedthrough the several ice molds, and contacts with the inner walls of the molds, chilled by the refrigerant passing through the molds as described, the temperature of j the water is gradually reduced to approximately thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Congelation on the exposed inner walls of the molds is quickly initiated and continues until a solid cake of ice fills each mold. The molds may then be removed from thetank by means of the bails, 34:, and the molds may be sufficiently heated to permit of the ready removal of the ice blocks therefrom.

To cause an effective circulation of the water throughout the tank as described above, I prefer to use two propellers for a showing of core.

tank containing single ice molds, as indi cated in Fig. 8, while in a tank fitted for the use ofdouble ice molds, I prefer to use four propellers as indicated in Fig. 9. "Any seep age'or dripplngs of brine from the headers or their connections, is taken up by'the drip pans, 35, and discharged from the ends thereof, through pipes, '36, which may be connected with a sewer orwith a storage receptacle for re-use; flow of water into the tank, 1, automatically, by a valve in the supply pipe, 37, controlled by afloat, 88. I a

As will be readilyunderstood, the process of ice manufacture may be continuously'carried on in an apparatus such as I have de scribed, the float valve operating to cause the refilling of the tank with water "to the requisite fixed depth when and as the water level may be lowered by the removal of the ice cakes and the molds containing them,

while the process of congelation will be materially shortened, and the cakes of ice produced will be very clear with a very faint my 1 invention," I

' contained in said tankthrough the saidice mold.

2, In ice-making apparatus, the combination of a tank adapted to contain water to be congealed; conduits for' a refrigerant; a. portable ice-mold having uninclosed ends and double walls spacedaapart, the entire exterior wall being covered with matter nonconductive of heat and cold,'said mold being'positionedin said tank with itsopen ends disposed in a substantially horizontal plane; connections intermediate said 3 conduits'and the space .betweenthe double walls of said ice-mold; means for passinga cur rent of the-water contained in said tank through the said ice-mold, and means where'- by said ice-mold may be removed from $8416. tank to'harvest the ice formed'therein.v

I may also control the.

3. In'ice-making apparatus, in combination, a plurality of individual ice-molds freely open attheir endsand having double walls'spaced apart for the passage of a refrigerant', the outer walls and ends thereof beingexteriorly covered with matter nonconductive of heat and cold; a waterrecep taclewithin which said ice-molds are positioned in'series; supply and eXit headers for 55 spaced apart and exteriorly covered with the refrigerant extending along the opposite ends of the said ice-molds, saidheaders hav ing valved branches for each ice-mold; inlet and outlet pipe-sections for each mold;

and means for creating a gentle fiow of water through the molds during the freezing operation. Y

4:. Apparatus for making ice-blocks from undistilled water; comprising a tank for containing the water, a plurality of open ended double-walled refrigerating molds located substantially horizontally in said tank, and means for creating a gentle flow of water through said molds, thereby preventing the'accumulation of impurities in suspension in said water in the forming ice, while permitting the ice to form in the molds in close correspondence to the formation of natural icein flowing streams.

joined to said valved branches bydetachable' couplings. 6. Inice-inaking apparatus, the combina- 'tion of a tank adapted to contain water to be congealed, a series of portable ice-molds having uninclosed ends and double walls spaced apart exteriorly covered with matter non-conductive of heat and cold; conduits for a refrigerant; readily-detachable connections between said conduits and the spaces between the double Walls of the respective ice-molds of said series; means for forcing a current of said refrigerant through the respective spaces between the double walls of the ice-molds'of said series; and means for forcing a current of the water contained in said tank through the respective ice-molds of said series, simultaneously.

7. In ice-making apparatus, the combination of a tank adapted to contain water to be congealed, a series of. portable ice-molds having uninclosed ends and double walls matter non-conductive of heat and cold, series of guides adapted for the emplacement of said molds with the uninclosed ends of each lying in a substantially horizontal plane and their sides in planes substantially parallel to each other; conduits for a refrigerant; readily-detachable connections intermediate said conduits and the spaces between the double walls of the respective icemolds; means for forcing a current of re frigerant through the channel in the walls of each of said ice-molds; and means for forcing a current of the water in said tank through each of said molds.

8. In ice-making apparatus, a tank adapted to contain water to be congealed; series of portable ice-molds having uninclosed opposite ends, and having double walls spaced apart and eXteriorly insulated from heat and cold; guides fixed upon the bottom of said tank adapted for the emplacement of said ice-molds in separated series on said bottom with their uninclosed ends so disposed as to receive and pass a current of the water in said tank; a series of conduits for a refrigerant; readily-detachable connections between said conduits and the spaces between the walls of said ice-molds, respectively; means for passing a current of refrigerant through the spaces between the walls of said ice-molds; means for forcing a current of the water in said tank through each of said ice-molds, and means .for the ready removal of said ice-molds individually from said tank to harvest the ice formed in said molds.

9. In ice-making apparatus, a tank adapted to contain water to be congealed; series ofportable ice-molds having uninclosed opposite ends, and having double wallsspaced apart and exteriorly insulated from heat and cold; guides fixed upon the bottom of said tank adapted for the emplacement of said ice-molds in separated series on said bottom with their uninclosed ends so disposed as to receive and pass acurrent of the water in said tank; series of conduits for a refrigerant; readily-detachable connections between said conduits and the spaces between the walls of said ice-molds, respectively; means for passing a current of refrigerant through the spaces in the walls of said ice-molds; means for forcing av current of the'water in said tank through each of said iceinolds, and means for the ready removal of said ice-molds individually from said tank to harvest the ice formed in said molds, and automatic means for replenishing the water in the tank as its level is lowered by the removal of an ice-mold or molds with the ice formed therein.

VVILLIAll/l BLANKNER.

Witnesses CHARLES G. NIsHEL, SAMUEL JAcoBsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

